Tony McCoy got his name on the scoresheet when he drove Albertas Run to victory in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham.
Albertas Run lands SunAlliance for champ
Tony McCoy got his name on the scoresheet when he drove Albertas Run to victory in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham.
A winner of three of his four previous races over fences, the Jonjo O'Neill trained seven-year-old was always travelleing well under McCoy as the clean-jumping Silverburn led the way.
Sam Thomas went for home a long way out on Paul Nicholls' charge but was harried all the time by outsider Battle Cry, who went to the front jumping the third last.
However, McCoy cruised upsides touching down over two out and made the winning move on the final bend as Battle Cry finally gave way.
And despite idling on the run-in Albertas Run (4/1f) still had four-and-a-half lengths to spare at the line with Roll Along (20/1) finishing best of all to take second ahead of Battle Cry (25/1) and Silverburn.
"He's a great little horse," said the winning trainer. "I was a little bit nervous about the ground, but when I saw him jumping so well early on I thought the ground couldn't be too bad.
"AP (McCoy) is a fantastic man to get himself back fit and well. We had hoped to get him back on a winner before today, but it's great to give him one today.
"He gave him a great ride. He's riding as well as ever, if not better."
Irish raider Pomme Tiepy was an early casualty while another market leader Air Force One never really figured.
Double for Hemmings
Owner Trevor Hemmings, who won the race with Trabolgan in 2005, was also responsible for the first winner on a bumper day two when Alan King's Old Benny stormed home in the Peter O'Sullevan National Hunt Chase.
The well-backed 9/1 chance was perfectly delivered to lead at the final fence by Charlie Huxley and the pair stayed on powerfully to leave Over The Creek (7/1) for dead on the run-in, recording a seven length win.
The runner-up tired markedly up the hill after cruising into contention but had enough in reserve to come home ahead of Back On Line (8/1) and rank outsider Niche Market.
The Irish were on the mark in race three when Finger Onthe Pulse landed some morning support in the Jewson Novices Handicap Chase.
Pulse lands Jewson
Barry Geraghty was always going well on Tom Taaffe's charge, who carried the same colours as former Gold Cup winner Kicking King.
Gold Medallist was always up with the leaders but the frantic pace did for those who followed it, and Philip Hobbs' charge was a spent force jumping two out as Finger Onthe Pulse eased to the front.
Mick Fitzgerald always had him in his sights though on Barbers Shop (12/1), and was only a length down going over the last.
But Geraghty had left something in reserve and the Irish raider went clear on the run-in before tying up close, and although he was only a neck ahead at the line the 9/1 chance never looked like getting beaten.
Possol (25/1) came from off the pace to snatch third ahead of Fleet Street (66/1), but there was disappointment for trainer Paul Nicholls whose Dear Villez unseated Ruby Walsh when hampered by a faller while Big Buck's and Arturio were unable to land a blow.
Winning owner Conor Clarkson said: "This is truly special. To win the Gold Cup with Kicking King was the day of all time. We were gutted when he came out last week as we were sure he'd run well.
"Finger is a very good horse in his own right and he's shown it today. We always felt he had a big race in him. He jumped like a buck and Barry gave him a spectacular ride. We are absolutely thrilled."
